NFL Picks: The Final Week

So here we are at the end of the year. But first a look at last week

Record:

Points: Bucs, Falcons, Saints, Jets, Colts, Ravens, Raiders, Chiefs,

8-5 for a total of 113-99

Victories: Bucs, Pats, Niners, Falcons, Saints, Giants, Jets, Dolphins, Ravens, Broncos, Chiefs

11-5 for a total of 153-86

So now we have the last week of regular season picks. As usual I am using sportsline.com for my odds

Browns (-2.5) @ Bengals: A very disappointing season for the Browns ends in a victory against Cincy. And I think they will cover

Points: Browns
Victory: Browns

Bears @ Vikings (-1): PICK'EM!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vikings are locked into the 6th seed so they might not play anybody. The Bears have been a disappointment but I think they will win

Victory: Bears

Falcons @ Buccaneers (-1.5): PICK'EM #2!!!!!!!!!!!!
Two teams that have really had ups and downs this year. I am going to take the Falcons because the Buccaneers are only 2-5 at home this year. Very odd

Victory: Falcons

Saints (-13) @ Panthers: Saints need this game badly in order to get the top seed in the NFC. They will play hard and I think they will win and cover

Points: Saints
Victory: Saints

Jets @ Bills (-1.5): PICK'EM #3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If I were Sean McDermott, I would not play Josh Allen at all. They are locked in and Josh Allen's style might be dangerous in a meaningless game. I think the Jets will play hard and they will win to get to 7-9

Victory: Jets

Dolphins @ Patriots (-16): The Pats have a tendency to rest players in the second half of these types of games so I think they won't cover but they will win.

Points: Dolphins
Victory: Pats

Packers (-12.5) @ Lions:  Like the Saints, the Packers need the game and I think they will pull away late to cover the spread

Points: Packers
Victory: Packers

Chargers @ Chiefs (-9.5): UPSET PICK OF THE WEEEEEEEEEEKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hear me out. With knowledge that the Patriots only need to beat Miami to lock themselves and the Chiefs into place, I dont think the Chiefs will go all out for this game. I think they will begin to rest starters in the second half, allowing the Chargers to come by and steal the game.

Points: Chargers
Victory: Chargers

Titans (-3.5) @ Texans: Texans are locked into the 4th seed. Tennessee needs the game badly to secure a WC spot. Titans will get it

Points: Titans
Victory: Titans

Colts (-4) @ Jaguars: I think the Jaguars have packed it in for the year and the Colts will roll right past them

Points: Colts
Victory: Colts

Redskins @ Cowboys (-11): I honestly don't know what to make of Dallas. I think they will win but covering by 11 points against a Skins team that has shown improvement? I don't think so.

Points: Redskins
Victory: Cowboys

Eagles (-4.5) @ Giants: All year we have seen the Eagles, when they have needed a victory badly come through. This will not be a cakewalk because the Giants will show up, but I think the Eagles will pull it out in the end and win the NFC "Least"

Points: Giants
Victory: Eagles

Steelers (-1.5) @ Ravens: PICK'EM #4!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Same advice I gave to Sean McDermott; I give to John Harbaugh. Don't play Lamar Jackson at all. Having said that, I think the Ravens can win anyway. The Steelers offense is god awful. And their defense can be had on the ground. I will take the Ravens backups

Victory: Ravens

Cardinals @ Rams (-5): The Rams aren't great, but I can see the young Cardinals having a let down after going into Seattle and beating the Seahawks. I think the Rams will win easily.

Points: Rams
Victory: Rams

Raiders @ Broncos (-3.5): It would be so Raiders if 3 of the 4 things they need to get to the playoffs happen and they can't win. For some reason, I think they will hear about the other games and will be let down. Broncos will win I think

Points: Broncos
Victory: Broncos

Niners (-3.5) @ Seahawks: This year has not been the normal year for Seattle at home. So despite the Niners defense looking shaky in recent weeks, I will take the Niners as the overall stronger unit to win and clinch the NFC West

Points: Niners
Victory: Niners

NFL Picks Week 16

Record:

Points: Bucs, Packers, Chiefs, Raiders, Falcons, Saints

6-6 for a total of 105-94

Victories: Bucs, Eagles, Packers, Patriots, Chiefs, Raiders, Vikings, Bills, Saints

9-6 for a total of 142-81

A so-so week for me, with 2 weeks to go

Texans (-3) @ Buccaneers: This should be a high scoring affair. But the Buccaneers are missing 2 key WRs (Evans and Godwin) so the Texans should win by more than 3.

Points: Bucs
Victory: Bucs

Bills @ Patriots (-6.5): Thanks to order of tie breakers, this game means much less for the AFC East than it could have. I think the Pats win here but I think that spread is too much against Buffalo

Points: Bills
Victory: Pats

Rams @ Niners (-6.5): Gut feeling: This will be a slaughter by the Niners. They blew a game against Atlanta last week, and the Rams, after getting kicked in the nuts by Dallas, will be feeling down. Lay the points

Points: Niners
Victory: Niners

Jaguars @ Falcons (-7):  The whole Jags organization is in disarray and the Falcons, coming off a nice win against SF will take advantage.

Points: Falcons
Victory: Falcons

Saints (-2.5) @ Titans: This is one of those "Vegas knows something" lines. That line is too lenient on the Titans. Coming off a disappointing loss to Houston and now they get the Saints looking for HFA? I can't buy it.

Points: Saints
Victory: Saints

Giants @ Redskins (-1): PICK'EM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Redskins have been playing much better of late but I think the Giants have shown some backbone recently and will defeat the Redskins

Victory: Giants

Steelers (-3.5) @ Jets: UPSET PICK OF THE WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!
This should be a very low scoring game. The Steelers, with a rookie QB, against a defense that is one of the best at stopping the run. JuJu Smith Schuster is questionable at this point but he would be a big help. The last time an opposing fan base overrode a Jets game; the Jets kicked the crap out of Oakland. This won't be that but I have a feeling the Jets win.

Points: Jets
Victory: Jets

Bengals @ Dolphins: PICK'EM #2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think I will take the Dolphins because I like what Brian Flores has done more than what Zac Taylor but it really is a toss up.

Victory: Dolphins

Panthers @ Colts (-6.5): The Panthers have lost 6 in a row and I think it will be 7. But I dont think the Colts are strong enough to cover that spread.

Points: Colts
Victory: Panthers

Ravens (-9.5) @ Browns: The Browns are a mess bonafide and the Ravens want revenge. Good luck with that, Freddie Kitchens.

Points: Ravens
Victory: Ravens

Lions @ Broncos (-7): I feel the Broncos like I feel with the Colts. I think they will win but they aren't good enough to cover the spread

Points: Lions
Victory: Broncos

Raiders @ Chargers (-7.5): And YET ANOTHER game that I feel that that the Chargers will win but that hook scares me a bit. I will take the points.

Points: Raiders
Victory: Chargers

Cowboys (-2) @ Eagles: PICK'EM #3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have to go with Dallas after the show they put on against the Rams. However I wouldn't be shocked if Philly wins either because I have seen it before. But I will take Dallas.

Victory: Cowboys

Cardinals @ Seahawks (-9.5): This one is a close call. The Cardinals played well against Cleveland but Seattle is at home where they usually win. The question is the spread. I will go with the option of a letdown. by Arizona

Points: Seahawks
Victory: Seahawks

Chiefs (-6) @ Bears: For some reason, I think the Chiefs are going to kill the Bears. The QB matchup is as stark as you will ever see and I don't know what enthusiasm the Bears will have. Give me KC

Points: Chiefs
Victory: Chiefs.

Packers @ Vikings (-5.5): The Packers offense has been slowed in recent weeks and the Vikings offense is on a roll. I will take the Vikings with the points.

Points: Vikings
Victory: Vikings

The Hallmark Channel: A Christmas Hell

         So, in recent days, the Hallmark Channel aired this ad for Zola, a wedding service and registry, and then promptly pulled it, apparently due to complaints about the fact that there are two women getting married in the ad. The network then proceeded to get destroyed in every direction from social media to Saturday Night Live, which prompted them early today to put the ad back on and apologize. I will make a couple of comments about this before I get to the main crux of my complaining.

1. Who are the people that complained about this? Clearly not men because I don't think the idea of two women marrying is that abhorrent to them. (Hell, two women kissing probably turns them on) and secondly, the Hallmark Channel is not really in the male demographic.chasing game. (More on that later). So given that logic, women must have complained about this, which is kind of unsettling considering it's a lesbian wedding.

2. I would understand the complaining if it was rubbed in that it was two women marrying and pushed into your face. But it really isn't in this ad. You could interchange the two women for a man and a woman in that ad with that dialogue. Now some people would say that proves it's pushing the agenda. But I would counter that by saying that it is normal now for two women or two men to have a wedding. It is not out of place in our society now to see these. So in essence, the fact that it is two women is irrelevant. Which is what it should be. This is not a same-sex wedding. This is a wedding. Pure and simple. And the dialogue goes along with that.

BTW, how did they choose who wore the dress and the suit? Coin toss? I don't know.

Okay. 

Now to my real problem.

               In my usual ADD way, it got me thinking about these cable Christmas movies that are produced by Freeform and Lifetime, and most guilty of all, The Hallmark Channel. These movies......these "movies" are all frickin' produced/shot in Canada so that the companies can save tons of money on shooting. They hire actors and actresses that are B to C list celebrities that are recognizable but are not high level (or salary methinks) Examples include Holly Robinson-Peete, Alison Sweeney, Alicia Witt, Candace Cameron-Bure, Lori Loughlin (NOT ANYMORE! HAHA!) Colin Ferguson, Chad Michael Murray, Jesse Metcalfe etc. 

These movies also always feature the same two plots, if you read the blurbs.

1. Girl X goes to a new area either in love with Christmas or against Christmas and changes the atmosphere in some fashion. She also meets a handsome stranger Y with whom she butts heads with initially but then eventually they get together.

2. Girl X, who hasn't been home in forever for some negative reason, goes home for Christmas. Not only does she deal with said issues, but she also runs into her "old flame" (Y) with whom she rekindles a romance.

That's it. That's the lot. There are little changes here and there, but they are essentially all the same. But that is not even the the biggest thing that bothers me about them, despite how tedious and mediocre the whole thing seems to be.

I went to look at the titles on the channel guide and I was stunned at how many times the word "Christmas" was used. These are solid filmmakers. You would think they would be able to come up with some creative titles that would be more spread out with references to the Christmas Season. 

Nope.

You know what's coming. Here's a list of the titles that I discovered on the Hallmark Channel itself:

Picture a Perfect Christmas, A Christmas Love Story, Reunited at Christmas, Hats Off to Christmas!, Check Inn to Christmas, On The Twelfth Day of Christmas, Christmas at Dollywood, Christmas in Love, A Bride For Christmas

That was how many I got through before I got to the first title without "Christmas" in the title. But then we continue. There are a few in there without the word but I will skip those

The Sweetest Christmas, Welcome To Christmas, Christmas at the Palace, Christmas at Graceland, The Christmas Club, Christmas at the Plaza, Christmas Town, Crown for Christmas, Christmas Joy, It's Christmas, Eve, My Christmas Love, Write Before Christmas, A Perfect Christmas, The Christmas Cottage, A Dream of Christmas, Christmas Getaway, A Christmas Melody, The Christmas Parade, Christmas Next Door, My Christmas Dream, With Love, Christmas, The Nine Lives of Christmas, A Cheerful Christmas, A Christmas Detour, Love You like Christmas, Miss Christmas, Switched for Christmas, Coming Home for Christmas, Christmas in Evergreen, Christmas under the Stars, Christmas Under Wraps, A Royal Christmas, A Wish for Christmas

Do you hate the word "Christmas" right now? Then I've done my job. And that was JUST the Hallmark Channel. On the sister channel; Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, they have MORE movies including two seperate movies with these tites

Time For "ME" to Come Home for Christmas, and Time For "YOU" to Come Home for Christmas.

I AM NOT KIDDING. These are two separate movies.

MY GOD.

Whomever makes up these titles needs to be either sent away and put in a loony bin muttering "Christmas" over and over again, or just needs to be taken out for his or her own good. 

Because it is clear that the persons who make these titles have no brain cells whatsoever and also think the same of the audience. "Let's make sure that the people know that all of these movies are related to Christmas by putting Christmas in the title" 

BECAUSE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE BEING SHOWN IN NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER ISN'T A BIG ENOUGH HINT!

Hallmark has to make a profit off these things otherwise why keep doing them? Sigh. I will just stick with A Charlie Brown Christmas and A Christmas Story......

DAMMMMMMMITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

NFL Picks Week #15

The scoreboard:

Points: Niners, Falcons, Lions (push), Dolphins, Colts (push), Chargers, Steelers, Titans, Giants, Ravens (TNF)

10-5 for a total of 99-88

Victories: Ravens, Packers, Browns, Falcons, Vikings, Jets, Chargers, Steelers, Titans, Eagles, Ravens (TNF)

11-5 for a total of  133- 75

So a good week for me as we go to Week 15.

Buccaneers (-4) @ Lions: I really dont know what to make of Tampa. They are kind of like the Raiders of the NFC. That being said, I do know the Lions are awful and the Bucs will beat them

Points: Bucs
Victory: Bucs

Eagles (-5.5) @ Redskins: In this edition of "Who Wants to Win the NFC East?" I think the Eagles will win but I do like how the Redskins have played recently. I will take the points

Points: Redskins
Victory: Eagles

Bears @ Packers (-4.5): Good spread here. Bears have played better of late on offense and the Packers could still have a lapse here and there. I will give the points away but a touch reluctantly

Points: Packers
Victory: Packers

Patriots (-10.5) @ Bengals: Another interesting spread. The question: Can the Pats offense cover? I honestly don't believe they will. They will win but not cover

Points: Bengals
Victory: Patriots

Texans @ Titans (-3): Titans have been on a roll lately and they catch the Texans after a sleepwalking effort against Denver. I think the ground game with Derrick Henry will be the difference in the game.

Points: Titans
Victory: Titans

Seahawks @ Panthers (-6.5): Seattle got smacked around by the Rams and now have to go east. I like Carolina but not to that spread. I will take the points

Points: Seahawks
Victory: Panthers

Broncos @ Chiefs (-10): After beating New England, there could be a letdown, but I think its more likely for the Broncos.

Points: Chiefs
Victory: Chiefs

Dolphins @ Giants (-3): UPSET PICK OF THE WEEEEEEEEKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Giants are the worst team in the NFL. I have no qualms making this statement. And with the release of Janoris Jenkins, they are even worse. Dolphins have been competitive, look at Brian Flores. And I think they will beat the Giants this week

Points: Dolphins
Victory: Dolphins

Jaguars @ Raiders (-6.5): Two teams that are going the wrong way. This should be a high scoring affair. But the Raiders, playing their final game in Oakland, will go out a winner.

Points: Raiders
Victory: Raiders

Browns (-3) @ Cardinals: The Cardinals have seemed to regress from the middle of the season where they were competitive. Browns need this game and they will get it.

Points: Browns
Victory: Browns

Vikings (-1.5) @ Chargers: PICK'EM!!!!!!!!
I will take the Vikings in this game because I think the Chargers are very topsy turvy and will follow a great win against Jacksonville with a bad loss

Victory: Vikings

Falcons @ Niners (-11): I sense a letdown in this game. That spread is too high for me. Give the points

Points: Falcons
Victory: Niners

Rams (-1.5) @ Cowboys: PICK'EM #2!!!!!!!!
Have the Rams found themselves a little bit? It looks like it but it seems it may be too little and too late to save them. Nevertheless I will take them in this matchup against the NFC Least

Victory: Rams

Bills @ Steelers (-1.5): PICK'EM #3!!!!!!!!!!!
Big game for both teams. Bills have a shot at the AFC East if they can win this game. Steelers need it to get in better playoff position. But at the end of the day, I think the Bills will have a plan to stop Duck "Dodgers" Hodges and Josh Allen will manage them to a win

Victory: Bills

Colts @ Saints (-9): The Colts are taking on water and now have to face an angry Saints team at home. Say goodnight, Indy

Points: Saints
Victory: Saints

NFL Picks Week #14

Scoreboard update:

Points: Packers, Dolphins, Buccaneers, Bengals, Rams,

5-7 for a total of 89-83

Victories: Packers, Ravens, Titans, Buccaneers, Bengals, Rams, Chiefs, Seahawks,

8-6 for a total of 122-70

So let's get into the picks (BTW, in case you were wondering, I get my odds from Sportsline.com. This is not an ad, it's just explaining the source)

Ravens (-6) @ Bills: Can the Bills stop the Lamar juggernaut? I'm not sure. But the Bills showed me something offensively last week. and they are at home. I'm going on a hunch of a close game here

Points: Bills
Victory: Ravens

Redskins @ Packers (-12.5): Green Bay continues to ride momentum at home against a team that can't afford to win more games. I will take the Packers here

Points: Packers
Victory: Packers

Broncos @ Texans (-9): Texans seem to be this dark horse coming out of nowhere and the Broncos are a mess. Give me Houston.

Points: Texans
Victory: Texans

Niners @ Saints (-2.5): The key in this game will be the New Orleans defense and if they can stop George Kittle. I'm very meh on this game so I will take the Niners with the points because I'm not sure

Points: Niners
Victory: Saints

Bengals @ Browns (-7.5): I told you about this Bengals defense being sneaky good of late so this will be a close game. Browns pull it out but close

Points: Bengals
Victory: Browns

Panthers @ Falcons (-3): Always interesting to see how a team responds to a coaching change. But Kyle Allen still has been trending downwards to me so I will take the Falcons

Points: Falcons
Victory: Falcons

Lions @ Vikings (-13): After crashing against Seattle, the Vikings will take refuge against a Lions team that is lost, but that spread is a little too big for my taste

Points: Lions
Victory: Vikings

Dolphins @ Jets (-5.5): This seem to be one of those "Vegas knows something" lines. IMO, this should be a pick'em. I don't know what teams are going to show up and which aren't. I think the Jets get revenge but I can't be sure

Points: Dolphins
Victory: Jets

Colts @ Buccaneers (-3): UPSET PICK OF THE WEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!
Two big points for this game: The Colts are getting back RB Marlon Mack back from injury, which should provide a big boost to their offense, and the Buccaneers (5-6) are just 1-4 at home this year. Give me the Colts

Points: Colts
Victory: Colts

Chargers (-3) @ Jaguars: The Kings of the Heartbreaking Loss did it again last week, and I am really tempted to pick Jacksonville, but the LA defense gets All-Pro Derwin James back and Minshew is starting again, this time with teams ready for him. I will take LA, uncomfortably

Points: Chargers
Victory: Chargers

Chiefs @ Patriots (-3): Did the Pats find something in the 4th Quarter against Houston? All I know is that Belichick rarely loses 2 in a row. I will take the Pats, uncomfortably

Points: Pats
Victory: Pats

Steelers (-2.5) @ Cardinals: Steelers have found a groove with Duck Hodges and a stout defense and I think that will continue

Points: Steelers
Victory: Steelers

Titans (-2.5) @ Raiders: This is another one of those "Vegas knows something" lines. And this time I am going against Vegas. I think the Titans smash Oakland

Points: Titans
Victory: Titans

Seahawks @ Rams: PICK'EM!!!!!!!!!!!!
In a game that seems very close, give me the better QB. That would be Russell Wilson. I trust him in these big games.

Victory: Seahawks

Giants @ Eagles (-9.5): Does anybody want to win the NFC East? It's the Eagles turn to step up against a Giants team that gets a blast from the past with Eli coming back. Eagles win, but not by 10 points.

Points: Giants
Victory: Eagles